Living in Albany, New York, I always wished for a White Christmas.
In 1966, though, chances of that happening were looking a bit bleak. We hadn’t received more than a dusting of snow until 3.5 inches fell on December 14. But, even that didn’t last. On December 17 and 18, temperatures crept into the 40s, and all the snow melted.
Finally, Christmas Eve arrived. With it came snow.
My sisters and I were ecstatic. We would have a White Christmas after all!
On Christmas Eve, 13 inches of snow fell at our house . Several times during evening, my older sister and I went out with Dad to shovel the snow from the sidewalks and brush the accumulation off the car . Our younger sister helped Mom sweep the snow from the porches and stairs.
The snow continued through the night, and another 5.3 inches fell on Christmas Day. We woke to a wonderful, largely unspoiled blanket of snow on Christmas morning. A full foot and a half of Christmas snow!
We wiped away the delicate patterns of frost on the windows and gazed at the winter scene outside. Every branch of every tree was covered with snow, and each fencepost was topped with a clean, white cap.
We went outside to once again clear the snow from the walks and from the car. The snow muted the sounds around us. Even the snowplows on Allen Street seemed to move quietly as they worked to clear the snow.
From time to time a mound of snow, its weight too ponderous to support itself, would fall from a branch and fall with a plop! onto the ground below.
Winter birds hopped through the new snow, leaving delicate tracks behind them as they wandered about on their never-ending quest to find something to eat. In the garden, bright red rose hips peeked out here and there from their white cocoon.
Back inside, in the warmth of the house, we gathered by the Christmas tree. Mom turned on the radio and the sounds of carols filled the house. We opened our gifts, reveling in our own joys and those of the rest of the family, and we marveled at the beauty of Christmas.
Written for the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories – Day 22.
Copyright © 2007 by Stephen J. Danko
